Academics and researchers have the luxury of working deeply for years on a topic. Often, in their work, they discover truths that have the potential to excite a more general audience, breaking out of their tight academic circles. But to succeed with a book on these topics, they need a very different approach than has…
Newsletter 81. Using machines to enforce prejudice backfires, don’t use AI to apply to AI companies, a copyright legal shocker, and a list of words to avoid. Plus, three people to follow and three books to read. Machines can’t make trans people disappear — but they can sure do a lot of damage when they…
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft Research in the UK have completed a study to determine how generative AI affects critical thinking. Not surprisingly, knowledge workers that use AI feel they are less likely to be thinking critically. The researchers surveyed digital workers by explaining what critical thinking was and then asking them if they…
Writing teacher Stephen Lane’s essay in the Boston Globe is titled “AI in the classroom could spare educators from having to teach writing.” There are two reasons to teach writing. First, it is a skill that students will need as adults, even in a world drenched in AI tools. And second, learning to write is…
Newsletter 68. Banning student AI is stupid. Plus, how print-on-demand books get on shelves, the spreadsheet blooper reel, why Elon Musk loves Trump, three people to follow, three books to read, and my interview with Jane Friedman. A five-paragraph essay reveals how to revolutionize the teaching of writing It’s time to retire the venerable five-paragraph…
An author recently asked me this question: I now have an accepted and confirmed publishing deal based on my detailed proposal from a leading academic publisher. However, it has been suggested to me that I not take the academic deal and push to find a trade publisher with a much larger audience. Those who have…
Newsletter 51. A tribute to the grueling journey of this year’s graduation class. Plus, ableist ChatGPT, foot traffic to bookstores improves, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Spare a thought for the college Class of 2024 About 4 million people will complete a college degree this year. This is a class…
Newsletter 49. Why STEM education is about mind exercise, not job training. Plus, why AI is fair turnabout for journalists, ChatGPT is a bullshitter, and the Stanford Internet Observatory stops tracking the spread of lies. Plus, three people to follow and three books to read. Training thinkers For more than a decade, people have been…
I’m happy we had the time to sit down and talk. What’s on your mind? I’m in college now and I want to be a writer. Wow, that’s great. What kind of writer? Well, I like writing both fiction and nonfiction, and I want to make a living writing books. Awesome. I’ll be honest, it’s…